Research Analyst

State of Connecticut - Office of Policy and Management; Hartford (CT); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Professional growth

Work-life balance

Job summary

The State of Connecticut's Office of Policy and Management invites applications for a Research Analyst in the Health and Human Services Policy and Planning Division (HHSPPD). This full-time Hartford-based role supports healthcare benchmarks, data analysis, and policy development to improve cost growth, quality, and primary care spending in Connecticut.

You will evaluate preliminary data, assist with benchmark processes, and contribute to reports, dashboards, and meetings with stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Six years of professional experience in research, data analysis or economics.
• College coursework may substitute for experience (15 semester hours = 0.5 year, up to 4 years for a Bachelor's).
• Master's degree may substitute for one additional year of experience.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate and analyze preliminary data for healthcare benchmarks (cost growth, hospital payment growth, quality benchmarks and primary care spending target).
• Provide general support for hospital price growth benchmark process, including cost growth performance plans, and data requirements.
• Support healthcare quality benchmark functions by assessing national standards, candidate measures, population health or social determinants of health factors and suggesting associated updates to Connecticut's quality benchmark approach.
• Research emerging national healthcare quality measures, value-based payment models, and best practices for improving healthcare quality, minimizing healthcare cost growth, increasing spending on primary care, and reducing hospital payment growth in Connecticut.

Skills

Research methods

Statistics

Interpersonal skills

Oral & written communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

THE POSITION

The State of Connecticut's Office of Policy and Management (OPM) is currently seeking a qualified individual for the position of Research Analyst in their Health and Human Services Policy and Planning Division (HHSPPD).

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

Visit our State Employee Benefits Overview page!

• Professional growth and development opportunities.
• A healthy work/life balance to all employees.

HIGHLIGHTS

• This is a full-time position conveniently located in Hartford, CT, easily accessible to all major highways.

LOCATION: Office of Policy and Management

ADDRESS: 450 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT

WORK HOURS: Full-time, first shift, 40 hours per week

SCHEDULE: Monday through Friday

DISCOVER THE OPPORTUNITY TO

• Evaluate and analyze preliminary data for healthcare benchmarks (cost growth, hospital payment growth, quality benchmarks and primary care spending target).
• Provide general support for hospital price growth benchmark process, including cost growth performance plans, and data requirements.
• Support healthcare quality benchmark functions by assessing national standards, candidate measures, population health or social determinants of health factors and suggesting associated updates to Connecticut's quality benchmark approach.
• Research emerging national healthcare quality measures, value-based payment models, and best practices for improving healthcare quality, minimizing healthcare cost growth, increasing spending on primary care, and reducing hospital payment growth in Connecticut.

ABOUT US

At OPM we report directly to the Governor and provide information and analysis that the Governor uses to formulate public policy for the state. We also assist state agencies and municipalities in implementing the law and public policy on behalf of the people of Connecticut. We prepare the Governor's budget proposals; implement and monitor the execution of the enacted budget; and oversee the executive branch agencies that report to the Governor.

The Health and Human Services Policy and Planning Division (HHSPPD) leads a number of policy and planning teams aimed at improving the delivery of health care, long-term care services and supports and human services in the State. The Division provides research and staff support, represents OPM on numerous legislatively mandated councils and committees, manages federal grants, and monitors state and national activities that address quality, access and cost issues.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a state agency this class is accountable for independently performing a full range of tasks in research design and implementation.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

Healthcare Benchmark Project Coordination:

• Evaluates and analyzes preliminary data for healthcare benchmarks (cost growth, hospital payment growth, quality benchmarks and primary care spending target).
• Monitors HCBI timeline, annual cycle, workplans, and supporting data requests.
• Provides general support for hospital price growth benchmark process, including cost growth performance plans, and data requirements.
• Coordinates and produces official agency notifications to all entities who fail to meet benchmarks. Manages and processes data requests.
• Carries out contact management and scheduling for the healthcare benchmark cycle and associated activities.
• Supports HCBI and related stakeholder bodies and ensures compliance with public meeting requirements including posting and notices.
• Supports development of reports, website content, presentations, and briefing materials for agency leadership and stakeholder meetings.
• Assists in developing policies and recommendations based on benchmark findings.

Quality Benchmark Enhancement:

• Supports healthcare quality benchmark functions by assessing national standards, candidate measures, population health or social determinants of health factors and suggesting associated updates to Connecticut's quality benchmark approach.
• Initiates collaborations with Connecticut's Health Information Exchange, insurance carriers, practice groups and state agencies to improve data accuracy and coordination.
• Monitors accuracy, consistency, completeness and timeliness of various quality submissions and related documents.
• Provides general support for clinical quality benchmarks and the Aligned Measure Set.
• Research emerging national healthcare quality measures, value-based payment models, and best practices for improving healthcare quality, minimizing healthcare cost growth, increasing spending on primary care, and reducing hospital payment growth in Connecticut.
• Assists in evaluating the impact of benchmark measures on healthcare quality, equity, and affordability.
• Performs related duties to support HHSPPD team as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

Knowledge of

• research methods and techniques;
• statistics;

Skills

• interpersonal skills;
• oral and written communication skills;

Ability to

• analyze data;
• develop programs and use prepackaged computer programs to perform data analysis;
• understand agency related policies and procedures as they relate to research.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Six (6) years of professional experience in research, data analysis or economics.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

College training may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.

A Master's degree in economics, statistics or a closely related field may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

Successful completion of a Connecticut Careers Trainee program approved by the Department of Administrative Services may be substituted for the General Experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience synthesizing complex information from multiple sources and making data informed recommendations to move division initiatives forward;
• Experience developing and conducting research projects using data;
• Experience in health and human services, insurance, or public health related fields;
• Experience explaining complex or technical subject matter to a diverse set of stakeholders;
• Experience using software tools for data analysis;
• Experience reading and interpreting legislation, regulations, policy proposals and reports;
• Experience with Microsoft office suite; and,
• Experience with the development of graphics, reports or dashboards to present key findings and information and create data stories.

Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.